NATIONAL:
1. India-China LAC
Why in news – India and China agreed to intensify efforts for expeditious disengagement and de-escalation.
Key Points –
• Since 2020, Corps Commanders of India and China have been discussing resolution of the flashpoints along the LAC.
• Friction points - Depsang Plains (Y-junction) and Demchok (Charding Ninglung Nullah, Saddle Pass).
• The Depsang Plains are located close to the strategically important Daulat Beg Oldie.
• Earlier, both sides deciding to pull back from the Galwan Valley, Pangong Tso and Patrolling Points in the Gogra and Hot Springs area.
INTERNATIONAL:
1. Fukushima Nuclear Water
Why in news – Japan is releasing the Fukushima nuclear power plant’s cooling water into the ocean.
Key Points –
• The Fukushima-Daiichi nuclear power plant was destroyed during a tsunami in 2011.
• Both Japan’s atomic agency and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) have approved the plan.
• Advanced Liquid Processing System (ALPS) can filter 62 different radioactive elements but can’t filter out the radioactive isotope tritium.
• Units to measure radioactivity - Becquerels, curies and picocuries.
About Tritium –
• A form of hydrogen that occurs naturally in Earth’s atmosphere. (far less dangerous than cesium-137 or strontium-90).
• Emits a weak beta particle that can be stopped by a sheet of plastic or human skin.
• Even if tritium gets into the body, the risks are low.
• Does not accumulate (Unlike mercury in tuna fish).
2. Yevgeny Prigozhin
Why in news – Head of the Wagner Group Yevgeny Prigozhin died in a plane crash.
Key Points –
• Wagner Group was responsible for supplying mercenaries to conflicts in regions like Ukraine and Niger.
• His men had relocated to Africa after a coup attempt in Moscow in June 2023.
SUMMITS & CONFERENCES:
1. 15th BRICS Summit 2023
Why in news – It was held in Johannesburg, South Africa (August 22 to August 24, 2023).
Key Points –
• Chairman - Cyril Ramaphosa. (South African President)
• Theme -BRICS and Africa: Partnership for mutually accelerated growth, sustainable development and inclusive multilateralism.
• Russian President Vladimir Putin didn’t attend in person because of ICC arrest warrant.
• Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov sent on his behalf.
• BRICS nations -- Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.
Value Addition –
• The term BRIC was first introduced in Building Better Global Economic BRICs publication (2001) by Jim O'Neill.
• The BRIC leaders held their first meeting in July 2006 at St. Petersburg, Russia.
• The first BRIC summit took place in Yekaterinburg, Russia on June 16, 2009.
• South Africa was accepted as a full member Foreign Ministers held a meeting (New York) in 2010.
2. BRICS New Members
Why in news - BRICS invited 6 more countries to join the alliance on August 24, 2023.
Key Points –
• Invited countries - Iran, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Argentina, Egypt, and Ethiopia.
• It can strengthen the group’s claim of being a ‘voice of the Global South.’
• Their membership will begin in January.
• Now it will represent almost half the world’s population and include 3 of the world’s biggest oil producers (S.Arabia, the UAE and Iran).
• BRICS decisions are unanimous i.e., all members must agree for any move to go ahead.
AWARDS & HONOURS:
1. 69th National Film Awards 2023
Why in news – The 69th National Film Awards were announced on August 24, 2023 in New Delhi.
Key Points –
• It honoured the best of Indian cinema from the year 2021.
• Established in 1954, the National Film Awards are overseen by the Directorate of Film Festivals.
• It is given by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.
• Winners list –
IMPORTANT DAYS:
1. Women's Equality Day 2023
Why in news – It is celebrated on August 26.
Key Points –
• Theme - #EmbraceEquity.
• It honours the adoption of the 19th Amendment (1920) in the US Constitution that supports the rights of women.
BOOKS & AUTHORS:
1. Book "Drunk on Love”
Why in news – The book "Drunk on Love: The Life, Vision and Songs of Kabir" is written by Vipul Rikhi.
Key Points –
• Published by - HarperCollins India.
• It aims to capture the life of mystic poet Kabir through popular legends, his vision and his poetry.
SPORTS:
1. FIDE World Cup
Why in news - GM Magnus Carlsen won the World Cup crown by defeating GM Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa.
Key Points –
• Magnus Carlsen is a 5-time world champion and it is his first World Cup crown.
• Top 3 - Magnus Carlsen (1st, Norway), Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa (2nd, India) and Fabiano Caruana (3rd, USA).
• Pragg is the youngest (18 years) World Cup finalist ever.
• Tie-breaker - Two players play two games in rapid succession, each with a time limit of 10 minutes and a 10-second increment for each move.
BIHAR:
1. Buniyadi Sanjivani Sewa
Why in news – It is efficiently working under Social Welfare department.
Key Points –
• Aim – to provide basic medical assistance to elderly people, widows and others (e.g., disabled) through mobile therapy vans.
• It was launched on August 10, 2017.
• It is a joint project of the World Bank and the Bihar government.
2. Travel and Tourism Fair (TTF)
Why in news – The first-ever travel and tourism fair (TTF) at Patna to be held on October 7 and 8 at Gyan Bhawan.
Key Points –
• TTF is India's largest and oldest travel show.
• Bihar aims to promote spiritual, eco and wellness and Buddhist travel in the state.
• Bihar has a footfall of over 25 lakh domestic tourists and over 86,000 international tourists.
3. Expressway in Bihar
Why in news – Tejashwi Yadav meets Nitin Gadkari, demands expressway for Bihar.
Key Points –
• NHAI would carry out a feasibility test for building the first expressway in Bihar, from Buxar to Bhagalpur.
• It would be connected to 343-km-long Purvanchal Expressway, originating from Chand Sarai in Lucknow to Haidaria in Ghazipur in UP.
• He urged Nitin Gadkari to start the land acquisition work for the construction of Gorakhpur-Siliguri Expressway and Raxaul-Dighwara-Haldia Expressway.
• Currently, there is no expressway in Bihar.
• Tejashwi Yadav also holds the road construction department portfolio.
POINTERS:
• What rank has India secured in the 16th IOAA (International Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics) - 2nd rank.
• Border Roads Organisation (BRO) is constructing the new highest motorable road in the world named Likaru-Mig La-Fukche in which state/UTs – Ladakh.
• Who has become the player with the most trophies in the history of football - Lionel Messi (44 trophies).
• Which award has been awarded the Rajiv Gandhi National Sadbhavana Award - Banasthali Vidyapeeth.
• India is set to achieve $150 billion Bio-Economy by which year – 2025.
• Who has graced the celebration of 'ASMITA-Inspirational Stories by Army Wives', organised by the Army Wives Association (AWWA) - President Droupadi Murmu.
• The Indian government will launch the 'Mera Bill Mera Adhikar' invoice incentive scheme from September 1, 2023 in how many states/UTs - 6 (Assam, Gujarat, Haryana, Puducherry, Daman & Diu, and Dadra & Nagar Haveli).
• Which country has approved first respiratory syncytial virus vaccine for use in women during pregnancy to protect baby - USA.
• Which body has issued recommendations on license fee for DTH services and policy matters - Telecom Regulatory Authority of India.
• Recently, Jitendra Singh launched the CSIR Prima ET11, first indigenous e-tractor. It was developed by whom - Central Mechanical Engineering Research Institute (CMERI), Durgapur.